David M. Trepp
History of Montana, Sanders, 1913
David M. Trepp is a well-known newspaper man of Lewistown
being himself a writer of much ability. At present, he is
the president chief stock holder and managing editor of the
Lewistown Daily News, the only daily newspaper of that
thriving city.
His father, Martin Trepp, was born in Nufenen Canton,
Graubunden, Switzerland. As a lad he came to America
setting in Connecticut. In 1864 he made the overland
journey to Montana. The trip was fraught with hardship
and exciting incident but his early life as a mountaineer
had prepared him for the former while his love of liberty
and freedom, so natural to his countrymen, made him welcome
all adventure. Like all of the western emigrants he was
attracted to Montana by the tales of her great mineral
finds and himself hastened to begin a search for precious
ore. After a brief sojourn in the Treasure State, however,
he began to realize that for him her cattle might assay a
higher percent of gold than her ore. So soon as he began
to prosper his dreams of a return to the fatherland took
form. When he made a little home for himself in the new
state he journeyed back to his land of eternal hills in
search of the Swiss maiden who was to reign over it.
The girl whom he sought was Anna Fimian who gladly
returned with him to face her future in an unknown
country. They lived in quiet and comfort on their
ranch until 1893 when Mr. Trepp suddenly passed
away--a man in his full prime and vigor. Of the
family who was left to mourn him, his wife now
lives in Lewistown with her daughter Margaret
who is the chief bookkeeper in the office of the
Lewistown Daily News of which her brother is
president and general manager. The oldest of the
family, Lizzie Trepp Klinkman is the wife of Henry
Klinkman who resides in Billings. Elsie, the
youngest of the girls has completed her schooling
and is filling a position of trust in the Yegen
Brothers bank of Billings.
David M. Trepp, the second of the four children is the
only son of the family. He was born in Townsend Montana
on the 30th day of October 1885. When he was four years
of age, his parents moved to their ranch in Judith Basin.
Upon the death of his father, the lad, together wit his
mother and sisters made their home in Lewistown. While
attending school, at the age of thirteen, he earned his
first money by acting as janitor of the building. For
his services he received the sum of eight dollars a month.
That same year he entered the Lewistown high school,
completing the course of that institution while still
in his sixteenth year. After being graduated from the
Montana State University at the age of eighteen, he
taught school in Fergus County, working on a ranch in
the summer and holding for a portion of the time, a
clerkship in a mercantile establishment. In this
way he was able to acquire a portion of the means
with which to take a course in the State University
of Minnesota, situated in Minneapolis. After
finishing his work he returned to Lewistown and
became a reporter on the Fergus County Democrat.
Neither the position nor the politics of the paper
greatly pleased him and in 1907 upon the establishment
of the Daily News, he was pleased to accept the
position of city editor on that paper and to assume
full charge of the department of general news. Here
he invested the remnant of his savings.
Mrs. Trepp's interests are not confined to journalism
alone although he has given much of his best effort to
his editorial labors. He is connected with Al Heinecke,
a theatrical manager who is making a name for himself.
They are in control of theaters in Lewistown, Moore and
Harlow and have obtained an interest in several others.
On the 16th day of January 1911, Mr. Trepp was united in
marriage to Miss Ruth E. French, the daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. S.B. French, well-known residents of Lewistown.
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